8mm Page #10

Welles puts the tape back, walks to the front counter. The

clerk watches him the whole time.

WELLES:

Is this pretty much it?

The clerk just stares at Welles.

WELLES:

Just... just videos?

PIERCED CLERK:

What are you looking for?

Welles considers, decides to leave, exiting...

WELLES:

Nothing.

PIERCED CLERK:

F***-head.

INT. ADULT BOOKSTORE -- DAY

Welles comes in through the blacked-out door. This place is

larger than the last. TWO CLERKS are behind the counter.

One clerk's pricing porn, the other, MAX, 25, reads a porno-

novel. Max has long hair, colorful tattoos covering his

forearms, has a HIGHLIGHTER MARKER in his mouth.

Welles browses. There's a huge video bargain bin. Walls

are covered in videos, sex toys, inflatable women, etc.

CUSTOMERS, again all wary males, follow proper porn-shop

etiquette; look at the porn, not your fellow shopper.

There are "PEEP SHOW" booths in the back. A MAN looks

around, trying to be nonchalant, sweating profusely,

slipping behind one curtain.

Welles pretends to read the packaging on a triple-pack of

d*ldos, looks towards the front...

Behind the register, Max takes a look to make sure the other

clerk is busy, takes the cap of his Highlighter pen and

highlights a section in the book he's reading.

Welles notes this. He goes to the substantial MAGAZINE

RACK, picks up a porn tabloid, pages through it. He selects

sex MAGAZINES and NEWSPAPERS, choosing about twenty-five.

Welles takes this pile up to Max, gets out his wallet. Max

starts ringing everything up.

MAX:

Big date tonight?

WELLES:

(embarrassed)

Yeah... guess so.

MAX:

Can I interest you in a battery

operated-vagina?

WELLES:

Pardon me?

MAX:

My boss tells me I have to do more

suggestive selling.

WELLES:

Well, it's tempting, but no thanks.

MAX:

It's your call, but you're gonna be

sorry when you're in one of those

everyday situations that call for a

battery-operated vagina and you

don't have one.

WELLES:

I'll risk it.

Max shoves everything into a bag and hands it over.

MAX:

Thank you for shopping at Adult

Bookstore. Have a nice day.

Welles takes the bag. Max returns to his book. Welles is

leaving, but stops at the end of the counter.

WELLES:

What are you reading?

Max holds up the book, "ANAL SECRETARY."

MAX:

Once you pick it up you can't put it

down.

WELLES:

Catchy title. What are you really

reading?

(off Max's look)

Hard to believe that book's got any

parts worth highlighting.

Max takes a glance at the other clerk, opens the pages of

the book and shows it to Welles. "Music for Chameleons."

WELLES:

Truman Capote.

MAX:

I tear off the cover and paste this

one on...

(nods towards clerk)

You know how it is.

WELLES:

Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself

in front of your fellow perverts.

MAX:

(smiles, shrugs)

Might get drummed out of the

pornographer's union, and then where

would I be?

Another CUSTOMER clears his throat, waiting at the register.

Max turns to help him. Welles heads out.

INT. WELLES' ROOM -- NIGHT

Welles is at a table, porn publications spread out before

him, looking through the back of a PORNO TABLOID...

Turning pages of HARDCORE ADVERTISEMENTS: "Adults Only,"

"She Male Films," "Amateur Sex Videos," "Women and

Animals -- you've got to see it to believe it..."

Welles moves on to the next MAGAZINE, turning to the back,

again, page after page: "Watersports and Fisting

Specialists," "100's of Anal Films," "Asian Sex..."

HUNDREDS of 900 NUMBER ads with naked women urging callers

to pick up the phone. EROTIC CLASSIFIEDS; hundreds of

amateur photos of naked men and women with faces and

genitalia blacked over... "Men Seeking Women," "Women

Seeking Women", "Men Seeking Men," "Transvestites..."

It is endless. More CLASSIFIEDS: "Sex Slaves Wanted,"

"ACTRESSES WANTED," "Underground Films," "SPECIALTY FILMS

OFFERED," "S+M and BONDAGE," "Fetish Videos."

Welles leaves it, overwhelmed, goes to lay down on the bed.

He picks up his cellular phone, dialing.

WELLES:

(into phone)

Hi, honey, how are you? How's Cindy?

(listens)

The way it's going I'm about ready

to pack my bags...

INT. NONDESCRIPT ROOM -- NIGHT -- CONTINUOUS

In a dark room, we don't know where, a DARK FIGURE of a MAN

is silhouetted. He wears HEADPHONES, listening...

WELLES' VOICE (V.O.)

(through headphones)

... I've got a feeling the person

I'm looking for came out here and

got swallowed up by the place.

AMY'S VOICE (V.O.)

(through headphone)

Come back now. Just drop it and

come back...

WELLES' VOICE (V.O.)

(through headphone)

I would if I could. I'll be home

soon, believe me. It won't be long.

AMY'S VOICE (V.O.)

(through headphone)

I miss you.

INT. WELLES ROOM -- NIGHT -- CONTINUOUS

Welles shuts his eyes, still on the cellular...

WELLES:

(into phone)

I miss you too. I love you very

much. Give Cinderella a kiss for me

and tell her I love her, alright?

(listens)

Goodnight.

INT. ADULT BOOKSTORE -- DAY

Max is at the register. A crewcut WOMAN in overalls works

behind the counter with him. Welles approaches.

WELLES:

Remember me?

MAX:

Came back for that battery-operated

vagina, right? Told you you would.

Welles shows his IDENTIFICATION, lets Max get a good look.

WELLES:

I need some information. Thought

you might be able to help.

MAX:

(of identification)

Thomas Welles. Nice picture.

Welles takes out an ENVELOPE, puts it on the counter.

WELLES:

I'll be outside having a cigarette.

Welles leaves. Max watches him go. Max opens the envelope,

takes out two fifty dollar bills, pockets them.

MAX:

(to other clerk)

Cover me, Beth. I'm taking a break.

EXT. ADULT BOOKSTORE -- DAY

Welles stands down the sidewalk, smoking. Max comes out

from the porn shop, walks to Welles, looking around.

MAX:

I don't know what you're looking

for, mister, but so we're clear from

the start, I'm straight.

WELLES:

Good for you.

Welles and Max walk down the block, past HOMELESS MEN with

shopping carts overflowing with junk.

WELLES:

How long you been working there?

MAX:

Three, four years.

WELLES:

What's your name, if you don't mind

me asking?

MAX:

Max.

WELLES:

Well, here's the deal, Max. This

thing I'm on right now has something

to do with underground pornography.

Stuff that's sold under the counter,

illegally...

MAX:

There's not much illegal.

WELLES:

Well, whatever there is, whoever's

dealing, however it's done, I want

to know. I want a good look, so if

you've got that kind of connection,

great. If not, speak now.

MAX:

You're not a cop, are you? If I ask

and you are, you have to tell me.

WELLES:

I'm not a cop.

MAX:

You're a private eye. Like Shaft.

WELLES:

Not quite.

MAX:

From Pennsylvania. P.I. from PA.

What are you doing out here?

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